New Delhi: A local court here on Friday saw a sensational and daring shootout in which three gangsters, including a dreaded undertrial gang leader, were killed inside a courtroom where a hearing was underway with a Judge presiding over the proceedings.
Reflecting a major security lapse, the incident occurred in Court No. 2 of Rohini Court when notorious gangster Jitendra Mann alias Gogi was being produced before Additional Sessions judge regarding his case.
Two assailants of a rival gang dressed in the lawyers’ attire opened fire at Gogi, killing him on the spot, police said.
According to an eyewitness, Gogi was shot inside the witness box of the courtroom.
Delhi Police personnel present there reacted immediately and shot dead both the assailants, believed to belong to the ‘Tillu Gang’.
According to eyewitnesses, the two assailants started firing soon after entering the courtroom where Gogi’s case was listed. Gogi had been arrested by Delhi Police from Gurgaon in Haryana in March last year.
Over 30 rounds were fired within a few minutes, creating fear and chaos in the premises as it was initially thought to be an attack by terrorists.
Police said nobody else was injured in the firing incident.
An inquiry by Joint Commissioner of Police has been ordered into the incident which has led to several questions, especially how the assailants managed to enter the premises with arms.
Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said the “security lapse” would be looked into and “appropriate action” taken.
“The criminals entered the court premises in lawyers’ uniform… Police immediately encountered them... Three people are dead,” he said, adding “There will be a detailed inquiry regarding the security lapse.”
Videos of the incident that went viral show lawyers and police personnel scrambling as gunshots are heard coming out from a courtroom.
Police sources said the attackers belonged to a rival group named ‘Tillu Gang’.
The two groups had been at war for years, and several people have died in their conflicts. The two attackers who were killed by the Police have been identified as Jagdeep alias Jagga and Rahul as per sources.
“In a swift action by a police team in launching counter fire on two assailants who were in lawyers' attire and attacked Jitendra, both assailants died along with Gogi,” said Chinmoy Biswal, PRO, Delhi Police.
Kamal Nayan, an advocate who was present in the court at the time, told UNI that he heard gunshots, and thought it was a terror attack.
"I was standing near court room number 207, we heard gunshots and thought it was a terror attack. There was chaos and everyone was running. Police personnel escorted us to the central hall," he said.
Similar accounts were given by others who were present in the court complex at the time.
Another lawyer, Manoj Kumar said the lapse could have occurred as there isn't enough security checking on the gate from which the lawyers enter.
"There are seven gates in the court complex, gate number 1 is for judges, gate numbers 5 and 7 are for lawyers, and accused who are brought in police vehicles, and gate number 4 is for clients and others who come to the court," Kumar told UNI.
"The checking on gate number 4, which is for outsiders, is strict, but the gates from which the lawyers enter are not always well attended, and many times there is no checking. The metal detector on some gates also don't work," he said.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is in power in Delhi, slammed Delhi Police, and said there was allegedly a tip-off that an attack may happen.
"Centre appointed their favourite officer Rakesh Asthana as Delhi's Commissioner by bypassing all rules. This is a big security lapse, especially when police already had information," AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said.
"High Court should take suo moto cognizance and haul up the top cop," he said.
Gogi, a dreaded criminal, was arrested in April under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) by Delhi Police’s Special Cell. There are at least 19 cases of murder and attempted murder, besides dozens of extortions, dacoities, carjackings and robberies against him.
He had been accused of murdering several people, including popular Haryana folk singer Harshita Dahiya. He was caught last year. A teacher, Deepak, was murdered outside a corporation-run school in November and one Ravi Bhardwaj in Prashant Vihar this January by Gogi’s gang.
According to police sources, the rivalry between Gogi’s gang and the Tillu gang was decades old, and started during Delhi University student elections around 2010. (UNI)
